91��ý

On May 4-5, 2026, the international scientific and practical conference "Social Work in Action: Interdisciplinary and Globally Oriented Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia" was held at Farabi University. It brought together scholars, practitioners, and representatives of government and international organizations from Central Asia, Europe, and Asia. The conference was organized jointly by KazNU, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the International Association of Schools of Social Work.

The conference provided a significant platform for discussing the institutional development of social work, improving educational standards, and integrating the sustainable development agenda into the regional context. During the opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were made by Farabi University Chairman of the Board – Rector Zh.K. Tuimebayev, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Eric Chui Wing-hong, and President of the International Association of Schools of Social Work, Antoinette Lombard. In their speeches, they emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation, develop professional standards, and train personnel for the social protection system.

An important outcome of the opening was the signing of cooperation agreements, including the development of an online platform for global social work education standards and the expansion of academic partnerships between universities. These initiatives are aimed at improving the quality of specialist training and integrating Kazakhstan into the international educational space.

The conference's scientific program included plenary and breakout sessions that addressed the transformation of social work, the development of educational paradigms, mental health, digitalization, and sustainable development. Participants discussed the adaptation of international standards to the conditions of Central Asia and the role of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing social problems.

Particular attention was paid to the contributions of Kazakhstani researchers. Thematic sessions presented the results of research on the institutionalization of social work in the region, the development of professional standards, and the interaction between education and social policy in Kazakhstan.

The conference concluded with a Central Asian Dialogue, which discussed prospects for the development of social work and a three-year plan for modernizing the specialist training system. Participants noted the need to strengthen the professional status of social workers and expand interactions between universities, government agencies, and the

non-governmental sector.

The conference confirmed KazNU's role as a key platform for international academic collaboration and the development of practice-oriented solutions in the field of social work and sustainable development.